World Premiere Staging of My Hands Remember 
      As part of its 20th anniversary season, the Wheelock Family Theatre in Boston is presenting the world premiere staging of the play "My Hands Remember". This play, inspired by the life of a deaf Jewish woman who lived in Nazi-occupied Europe, will be presented in American Sign Language and spoken English. Performances will be held March list to 11th. In the play, the character 'Rose' relates the events of her life, from her early childhood in Poland when she becomes deaf to her adulthood during the late 1930's and early 1940's in Berlin, Paris and the United States. In the play, Rose overcomes the prejudice of others - including her own family - as well as the loss of her deaf husband and her father and a separation from her young daughter. My Hands Remember is set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation when millions were killed, sterilized, or raped, cut off from communication, forced to work as slave laborers, or fled into hiding. Actress Roxanne Baker plays the role of Rose, based on the real life of Rose Steinberg Feld Rosman. Jody Steiner, actor, ASL interpreter, and WFT Access Coordinator also performs. Renowned Deaf director Adrian Blue directs the play. The screenplay was written by Maureen Connolly. Tickets are $20 each. For information, contact the Box Office at 617/731-4426 TTY.

Jewish Advocates for Deaf Education 
     Jewish Advocates for Deaf Education (JADE) presents 'An Identity Crisis in Our Generation', a panel discussion, at B'nai Jacob Shaarei Zion in Baltimore, MD on Sunday, 11, 2001 from 7 pm to 9 pm. This panel discussion will focus on the topic of Raising Jewish Deaf Children. Yael Zelinger is coordinating this event. For information, call 410/578-6945 TTY.

The Playhouse Theatre 
     Actress Marlee Matlin will speak at The Playhouse Theatre in Wilmington, DE on Monday, May 21, 2001 at 7:30 pm. The inspirational presentation is titled 'I'll Scream Later'. Information and tickets ($45-$55) are available at http://www.playhousetheatre.com/ or e-mail to tickets. playhouse@usa.dupont.com The Box Office's Voice number is 302/656-4401. 

New York Federation Hosts Event 
     On Saturday January 13th, the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey had interpreters at two events - a lecture 'Torah Batman: How Batman is a Jewish Hero' presented by Cary Friedman, and a presentation on 'Kaballah and Mysticism' by Rabbi Moshe Weisblum. The interpreter was funded by the Jewish Deaf and Hearing Impaired Council. 

NAD Hires Feldman As Editor
      The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) in Silver Spring, MD has hired Shane Feldman as Editor/Writer for their publications and production department. A recent graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology (PIT), Feldman has a Bachelors degree in Professional and Technical Communication. He has worked as editor in-chief of "The Eagle's Eye," the community newspaper for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a college of RIT. His most recent position was in the NTID Marketing Communications and Media Relations Department. Shane wrote or edited a wide variety of articles for various publications such as the NTID parent newsletter, to "YES!", an international magazine on disabilities. "I am thrilled to be working for NAD as an editor. I eagerly look forward to dedicating my skills and enthusiasm towards serving an important organization for deaf and hard of hearing Americans," says Feldman. Feldman can be reached by email at editor@nad.org, 301 /587-4877 TTY or 301 /587-4873 FAX. 

Israelis Need Help
      The Our Way in New York is collecting donations to help pay for protective windows for several families with Deaf members who live in the Gilo area in Israel which is experiencing heavy fighting. During a recent fighting, five or six bullets were shot into a home. Being, Deaf they did not hear what was going on and miraculously nobody was hurt. The Israeli Government is supposed to provide assistance, but the process is slow. Contributions may be sent to: Our Way I.E.F. (Israel Emergency Fund), 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 

New Mexico School Reading Program 
      The Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico recently reported about a fundraiser Hedy Udkovich-Stern, New Mexico School of the Deaf's librarian participated at Borders book store in Santa Fe, NM. "The Borders fund-raiser will help the students decide which books they want ... and to get a sense of how important and lasting the habit of reading is," she said. Udkovich-Stern, who moved with her husband, Ronald Stern, the school's new superintendent, from California this year, said she wants to embellish the library with American Sign Language storytelling and literary discussion groups. "I am also hoping for more books within the residential units so that reading happens 24 hours a day," 

Cochlear Implant At Impasse In Canada 
     Canadian Jewish News in its December 14th, 2000 is sue reported that Frank Duchoeny has been battling for his profoundly deaf nine-year-old son to get a cochlear implant. Despite Duchoeny's insistence that his son, Ryan, qualifies fully under established criteria, the Quebec City's Hotel-Dieu Hospital and by Quebec Medicare would not authorize the procedure. The reasons given: the child's age, and the fact he can use sign language. Duchoeny, who also has been approaching the Jewish community for support, says the implants are performed on children his son's age who can "sign," and that, in any case, according to established criteria, this ability does not justify disqualification. The real explanation, be believes, boils down to money. "[Health Minister Pauline] Marois is simply not willing to spend it," said Duchoeny, a computer technician. "My child is number one to me, but too many people are being screwed by the system." Canadian Jewish Congress, Quebec region, for its part, agreed to send a letter to Marois, asking her to review the Duchoeny dossier, regional community relations director Richard Silver told The CJN. 

BHSD Celebrates 25th Anniversary
     Brooklyn Hebrew Society of the Deaf's Sisterhood celebrated its 25th anniversary on November 5th. Ninety four people attended the celebration in Brooklyn. NY. BHSD honored its founders Susan Greenberg, Janet Siegel and Flo Siegel who started the Sisterhood in 1975. Randy Sue Rothman was Mistress of Ceremonies and Eileen Katz is currently president of the Sisterhood. Guest speaker was Marla Berkowitz who spoke on 'Thinking About our Future And Old Age". Awards were also presented: Helen Piseak and Susan Saperstein received the Woman of the Year award, Dorothy Pakula and Sara Barrett received the Appreciation Award. A video of the event is available for $20 by contacting Barry Rothman at 718/357-3114. Rothman just took over BHSD presidency from Bernice Farr who is now vice president. Liz Voros is secretary along with Robert Penn as Treasurer and Natalie Rosen as editor. 

Group Presents Poetry In Different Light 
     Actress Shira Grabelsky, a sophomore at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. who was recently profiled in the September 2000 issue of 'Washingtonian', interpreted selections of well-known poems in movement and sign language in 'A Celebration of the Senses' at Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. on January 25th. Actor and director Nick Olcott performed the spoken words. Grabelsky is a member of the 'Quest: Arts for All', an international theater ensemble operated by Tim McCarty who also directed the poetry presentation. 

Matlin Was A Hit In Cleveland 
    The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio reported January 30th that guests of the kickoff of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland's 2001 campaign was asked to wave their hands above their heads to applaud actress Marlee Matlin who appeared at the banquet in Landerhaven as a speaker. Steve Wiesenberger, the banquet's co-chairman, gave the instructions. As Matlin rose to sign her speech about perseverance in spite of disability, "1,600 hands shook above heads." 

Philadelphia's HAD Website 
    Philadelphia Hebrew Association of the Deaf now has a new website at http://www.hometown.aol.com/katzbob

NFSS Founder Son Starts Business 
    Paul Haines, son of the late Howard Haines who was president of Nationwide Flashing Systems Inc. (NFSS), has announced the grand opening of United TTY Sales and Service in Olney, MD. Detailed information on UTSS services and product descriptions are available on their website at http://www.unitedtty.com For information call toll free:
1-866-TTY-4USA or e-mail to info@unitedtty.com

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